Chapter 2Her Peeping Accusation, My Prosthetic Eye

The interrogation room at the police station. The fluorescent lights shone brightly, and the air smelled musty.

I sat on a cold metal chair, facing Detective Miller and a female officer taking notes.

“Name.”

“Lucas Rochester.”

“Age.”

“Twenty-eight.”

“Occupation.”

“Unemployed.”

Detective Miller slammed his pen on the table, creating a jarring sound.

“Lucas Rochester, I advise you to confess honestly!”

“With witness and material evidence present, how much longer do you intend to argue?”

I faced his direction and calmly asked.

“Excuse me, who is the witness? What is the material evidence?”

“The witness is the victim, Amy Lestat! The material evidence…”

Detective Miller paused, apparently finding it somewhat tricky.

“We are currently searching for the material evidence! Don’t think you’re off the hook just because you don’t admit it!”

He intensified his tone, trying to overwhelm me with his presence.

“Amy Lestat has told us everything! You only moved in a week ago, and you already harbored ill intentions towards her. Every night at eight, when she showers, you use binoculars to peek at her from across the way!”

“You even secretly photographed her and posted her pictures on foreign websites for profit!”

“This behavior constitutes a serious crime! Confess now, and you might receive leniency!”

I almost burst out laughing.

Well-crafted.

Time, place, tool, motive—all perfectly laid out.

If I weren’t the person involved, I almost would have believed it.

“Detective Miller.”

I spoke, interrupting his lengthy monologue.

“First, I don’t own binoculars.”

“Second, I don’t have a tool for the crime. My computer and phone were replaced with blind-accessible versions three years ago and have no camera function.”

“Third, and most importantly.”

I said, enunciating each word.

“I am blind.”

Detective Miller’s breathing noticeably grew heavier.

“I told you, don’t use that as an excuse! We will take you for an examination to confirm if you’re truly blind!”

“Until the results are in, you are the primary suspect!”

Just then, the interrogation room door was pushed open, and a young officer peeked his head in.

“Captain Miller, the victim is very agitated, keeps crying, and says she’ll report us to your superiors, claiming we’re shielding a criminal.”

Detective Miller’s face darkened.

“Understood.”

He waved the young officer away, then glared fiercely at me.

Of course, I couldn’t see his glare, but I could hear the grinding of his teeth.

“Lucas Rochester, do you know that because of you, we’re under a lot of pressure right now?”

“She’s a university student from a prestigious school, with high public attention. If this isn’t handled well, our entire precinct will face criticism!”

I understood.

More than the truth, he cared about defusing the situation.

And the easiest way to defuse the situation was for me to plead guilty.

“So, to prevent you from being criticized, I should confess to something I didn’t do?”

My tone grew cold.

Detective Miller seemed provoked by my attitude.

“What kind of attitude is that! Who do you think you are?”

“Let me tell you, once you’re in here, if you’re a dragon, you coil; if you’re a tiger, you crouch!”

“You refuse to confess, do you? Fine! We have plenty of ways to make you talk!”

He stood up, looking down at me.

“Lock him up first! Once the search warrant comes, go search his place thoroughly!”

“I don’t believe we won’t find any evidence!”

The door opened, and two officers entered, once again grabbing my arms.

I didn’t struggle.

I knew that from the moment Amy called the police, I had fallen into a carefully crafted trap.

Since they dared to do this, they must have been fully prepared.

Next, they would “find” the so-called “evidence” in my home.

And I would be thoroughly nailed to the pillar of shame.